The Pasadena Fire Fighters Association announced Monday that an organization has been calling local residents to solicit donations under false pretenses.

The organization, named “The Firefighters & Emergency Responders Coalition,” has been asking for money to “help firefighters and their families.”

The association said in a statement, “Upon further research, it has been determined that the ‘The Firefighters & Emergency Responders Coalition’ is not a local entity seeking donations, but rather a political action committee that has funded Congressional candidates outside of California.”

The statement directed residents to the FTC website, which outlines questions to ask to determine how valid a charity solicitation may be. One of the tips is to call “the organization or your local police or fire department to verify fundraisers claim to be collecting on behalf of the organization or department.”

Hayley Munguia covers Long Beach City Hall for the Southern California News Group. She previously worked as a data reporter for FiveThirtyEight and has written for The Week, the Jerusalem Post and the Austin American-Statesman, among other publications. She's originally from Austin, graduated from NYU and will pet a dog any chance she gets.